Worlds 2026 is about to welcome some fresh talent.
Excitement is building for the League of Legends World Championship 2026, with another year of international competition, fierce rivalries, and high-stakes matches awaiting teams and fans. This year's tournament is particularly special for 23 players who are set to step onto the Worlds stage for the very first time.
Hailing from all six competitive regions, these players have taken different paths to reach the World Championship. Some are rising talents who have already made a name for themselves in their respective leagues, while others are experienced players who have spent years competing professionally before finally making their Worlds debut. Several have even tasted international success at MSI and the Esports World Cup, but Worlds is another milestone altogether.
With "THIS IS OUR MOMENT" as the theme for Worlds 2026, these first-time participants have plenty of reasons to make the most of their opportunity.
Here are the 23 players set to make their League of Legends Worlds debut in 2026.
Dplus KIA (LCK)
Jeon "Siwoo" Si-woo – Top lane
Jeon “Siwoo” Si-woo has been making a name for himself in the LCK since earning his promotion to 
Dplus KIA's main roster ahead of the 2025 season.
The Korean toplaner began his competitive career with DK Academy in 2022 before working his way through the Challengers League. His first year in the LCK gave fans plenty to talk about, including two pentakills on Rumble and Aurora. Siwoo also picked up the Most Solo Kills award at the 2025 LCK Awards.
He carried that momentum into 2026, helping DK lift the Esports World Cup trophy after a 3-0 sweep of Karmine Corp. His domestic performances also earned him a spot on the All-LCK Third Team, giving the young toplaner another achievement to celebrate ahead of his first Worlds appearance.
Shin "Smash" Geum-jae – Bot lane
Sin “Smash" Guem-je has had quite the journey from T1's academy roster to becoming one of Dplus KIA's most decorated players in 2026.
The Korean botlaner joined T1's academy in 2021, spending several years honing his skills before earning a call-up to the main LCK roster in January 2025. Smash was brought in to temporarily replace Lee "Gumayusi" Min-hyeong, playing alongside some of League of Legends' biggest names, including Choi "Doran" Hyeon-joon, Mun "Oner" Hyeon-jun, Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, and Ryu "Keria" Min-seok.
Smash made his LCK debut during the 2025 LCK Cup and continued sharing the botlane position with Gumayusi during the early part of the season. However, he eventually returned to T1 Esports Academy in April, with Gumayusi reclaiming the starting position.
Smash then moved to DK in November 2025, and the transfer has paid off handsomely. He was instrumental in the team's Esports World Cup 2026 championship run, recording an 8.57 KDA across 14 games and earning the tournament's MVP award as DK defeated Karmine Corp in the final.
His performances throughout the domestic season also earned him the LCK 2026 Rookie of the Year award. With an international championship and two major individual honours already secured, Smash heads into his first Worlds after one of the biggest years of his career.
Oh "Career" Hyeong-seok – Support
Oh “Career” Hyeong-seok spent several years competing in Korea's academy and Challengers scene before getting his opportunity with Dplus KIA.
The support player previously represented DRX Academy, DRX Challengers, and FEARX Youth before joining DK ahead of the 2026 season. He quickly settled into the starting lineup, forming a botlane partnership with fellow Worlds debutant Smash.
Career played his part in DK's Esports World Cup triumph, recording 71.6% kill participation across the tournament. His performances in the LCK also earned him a place on the All-LCK Third Team, capping off a successful first season with the organisation.
Top Esports (LPL)
Cheng "ZUIAN" Zihao – Top lane
Cheng “ZUIAN” Zi-Hao of 
Top Esports made a significant breakthrough in 2026 after working his way up from China's LDL.
The young toplaner began competing with iG Young in late 2023 before moving through Invictus Gaming and TES Challenger. He eventually earned a promotion to Top Esports' starting lineup, taking over the position previously held by veteran Bai "369" Jiahao.
ZUIAN made an immediate impact, helping TES reach the LPL Split 2 Grand Final and representing the team at MSI 2026. His strong performances continued in Split 3, where he was named to the LPL First All-Pro Team.
However, his first Worlds appearance is currently uncertain. ZUIAN was denied a United States visa twice, leaving TES preparing to bring 369 back into the starting lineup. With the organisation still pursuing another visa interview, the possibility of ZUIAN making his Worlds debut has not been completely ruled out.
Wang "Zhuo" Xuzhuo – Support
Xu-Zhuo “Zhuo” Wang has spent years competing against some of China's best players, but a Worlds appearance has continued to elude him.
The veteran support began his competitive career in 2018 and has since represented several LPL organisations, including Top Esports, Ninjas in Pyjamas, and JD Gaming.
Zhuo's career already includes back-to-back Demacia Cup titles with TES in 2020 and 2021, as well as a runner-up finish in LPL Spring 2022. He returned to TES for the 2026 season and earned a place on the LPL Split 3 Week 3 Best Roster alongside teammates ZUIAN, Tian, Creme, and JackeyLove.
After nearly eight years competing in China's professional scene, Zhuo is finally getting his opportunity to play at Worlds.
Shanghai Invictus Gaming (LPL)
Zi "JiaQi" Jiaqi – Bot lane
Zi “JiaQi” Jia-Qi of 
Shanghai Invictus Gaming began his competitive career in 2021 with TES Challenger, spending several years in the LDL before earning opportunities in the LPL.
He went on to represent RNG, FunPlus Phoenix, and Top Esports before joining Invictus Gaming in March 2026.
The botlaner became part of an IG squad that fought its way to third place in LPL Split 3, narrowly falling 2-3 to Anyone's Legend in the playoffs. IG then bounced back through the LPL Regional Finals to claim China's fourth seed at Worlds, giving JiaQi his first shot at the tournament.
Karmine Corp (LEC)
Caliste "Caliste" Henry-Hennebert – Bot lane
Caliste “Caliste” Henry-Hennebert has been one of 
Karmine Corp's most promising talents since joining the organisation in 2023, and his rise through Europe's competitive scene has already brought several championships.
The French botlaner began competing in 2022 before making his mark in the LFL, winning the French league and EMEA Masters Summer with Karmine Corp. After another successful campaign with KC Blue, he finally made the jump to the LEC in 2025 and helped the team capture the Winter championship.
Caliste has since become a familiar face on the international stage. He represented KC at MSI 2026 and helped the organisation reach the Esports World Cup Grand Final, where they ultimately fell to Dplus KIA.
His domestic form has been just as impressive. Caliste was named the LEC Summer 2026 MVP after helping Karmine Corp finish the regular season with an 18-2 record. Although KC eventually placed third in the playoffs, the French botlaner heads to his first Worlds as one of the team's most accomplished players.
Kang "kyeahoo" Ye-hoo – Mid lane
Kang “Kyeahoo” Ye-hoo began his competitive career with DRX Academy in 2022, gradually climbing through the Korean Challengers scene before making appearances for DRX's main LCK roster.
The midlaner moved to Europe at the beginning of 2026, joining Karmine Corp alongside Caliste. He quickly found success with the French organisation, helping KC reach the finals of both LEC Versus and Spring before finishing third in Summer.
Kyeahoo also got his first taste of major international competition at MSI and the Esports World Cup, including KC's run to the EWC final against Dplus KIA. Worlds 2026 gives him another opportunity to face international opposition, this time with a full season of LEC experience behind him.
Cloud9 KIA (LCS)
Park "Thanatos" Seung-gyu – Top lane
Park“Thanatos” Seung-gyu was already an established prospect in Korea's Challengers scene before 
Cloud9 KIA brought him to North America in 2024.
The toplaner began his career with DAMWON Academy in 2020, eventually climbing into the organisation's Challengers roster. His performances earned him a move to Cloud9, where he has since become a regular presence in the starting lineup.
Thanatos has continued to build his reputation in the LCS. He earned First All-Pro Team honours in Spring 2026 and Third All-Pro Team in Summer, while also picking up the Week 7 Player of the Week award.
Cloud9 eventually finished third in the Summer playoffs, securing Thanatos his first Worlds appearance after several years of competing in Korea and North America.
Lee "Loki" Sang-min – Mid lane
Lee “Loki” Sang-min has taken an unusual route to his first Worlds appearance, having moved between Korea and North America during his early professional career.
The Korean midlaner began with Hanwha Life Esports Academy in 2022 before progressing to HLE Challengers. He joined Cloud9 in late 2024 but returned to Korea for a stint with BRION during the first half of 2026.
Loki rejoined Cloud9 in June and stepped back into the starting lineup for the Summer campaign. He helped the team finish third in the playoffs, earning a Player of the Series award along the way.
His return to North America ultimately delivered something that had eluded him in Korea: a place at the League of Legends World Championship.
LYON (LCS)
Kang "Saint" Seong-in – Mid lane
Kang “Saint” Sung-in has enjoyed a remarkable 2026 season with 
LYON, establishing himself as one of the team's most important players.
The Korean midlaner began competing with DAMWON Challengers in 2021 and spent several years in the LCK Challengers League before joining LYON ahead of the 2025 season. He had already shown his potential in Korea, earning Round 1 MVP honours in LCK Challengers Summer 2024.
His move to North America brought even greater success. Saint helped LYON capture the LCS Spring 2026 championship and was named Finals MVP after the team's title-winning series.
He carried that form into Summer, earning another First All-Pro Team selection and a Player of the Week award. Saint also delivered during the playoffs, securing Player of the Series honours in LYON's victory over Shopify Rebellion as the team went on to finish runner-up.
Worlds will not be his first international outing, either. Saint previously represented LYON at MSI 2026, where the team swept G2 Esports to secure a top-three finish. With an LCS title, a Finals MVP, and international experience already under his belt, the Korean midlaner has plenty to build on heading into his Worlds debut.
MVK Esports (LCP)
Ngô Đức "Kratos" Khánh – Top lane
Ngô “Kratos” Đức Khánh has been part of the Vikings Esports organisation since 2024, remaining with the team through its transition into 
MVK Esports.The Vietnamese toplaner made his presence felt during LCP Split 3, earning Weekly Best Roster selections across the first three weeks of competition.
Kratos also picked up two Swiss Stage MVP awards, helping MVK fight its way to a third-place finish and secure qualification through championship points. His performances throughout the split have now earned him his first appearance at Worlds.
Võ Lê "Chika" Nhân – Mid lane
Võ "Chika" Lê Nhân gained experience outside Vietnam early in his career, spending time with DRX Academy in Korea before returning home to compete with Vikings Esports.
The midlaner spent time with the organisation's academy and main rosters before becoming part of MVK's Worlds-qualifying lineup in 2026.
Chika was among the team's recognised performers during LCP Split 3, earning a place on the Regular Season All-Pro Third Team. He also collected a Swiss Stage MVP award and a Week 3 Best Roster selection as MVK pushed through the competition.
Nguyễn Văn "Harky" Hữu – Bot lane
Nguyễn Văn “Harky” Hữu began his career with Team Whales in 2023 before gaining experience across Vietnam's competitive scene, including stints with Baby Whales and MVK Academy.
The botlaner has already competed against international opposition at the Asia Star Challengers Invitational, although Worlds will be his first appearance at the main World Championship.
Harky enjoyed a strong LCP Split 3 campaign with MVK, earning a place on the Regular Season All-Pro Third Team. Alongside Kratos and Chika, he helped the Vietnamese squad secure third place and book its ticket to Worlds.
Nguyễn "SiuLoong" Hoàng Lam – Support
Nguyễn Hoàng “SiuLoong” Lam came through Vietnam's competitive scene before joining Vikings Esports in late 2024.
The support player spent time competing with MVK Academy before returning to the organisation's main roster in 2026, where he joined Kratos, Chika, and Harky in the team's push for Worlds.
SiuLoong earned Weekly Best Roster recognition during both LCP Split 2 and Split 3. His contributions helped MVK finish third in the final split of the season and secure the organisation's Worlds qualification.
CTBC Flying Oyster (LCP)
Han "POUT" In-woong – Mid lane
Han “POUT” In-woong has travelled through several competitive regions on his way to a first appearance at Worlds.
The Korean midlaner began his career with BRION Academy in 2020 and has since played in Türkiye, China, Korea, and Vietnam. Previously competing under the handle 2003, POUT has built up an extensive résumé that includes several domestic and Challengers titles.
He won LCK Challengers Spring 2024 with KT Challengers before claiming the Asia Star Challengers Invitational title later that year. POUT then moved to Vietnam, where he added both VCS Spring and Summer championships to his collection in 2025.
His arrival at CTBC Flying Oyster in April 2026 provided another opportunity to compete at the highest level, and he wasted little time making an impact.
POUT helped CFO reach the LCP Split 3 Grand Final, earning Regular Season All-Pro Second Team honours along the way. He also secured two playoff MVP awards and multiple Weekly Best Roster selections, becoming one of the team's standout performers during its Worlds-qualifying campaign.
After years spent competing across different leagues, POUT is finally heading to the World Championship.
LOS (CBLOL)
Kim "Zest" Dong-min – Top lane
Kim “ZEST” Dong-min has spent much of his career competing outside his native South Korea, with stints in Türkiye and France before joining Brazil's 
LOS in 2026.
The toplaner began in Korea's Challengers scene in 2021 before making the move overseas.
His arrival at LOS helped the organisation enjoy a strong domestic campaign, finishing runner-up in CBLOL Split 1 and qualifying for the Esports World Cup.
Zest continued to perform in Split 2, including an impressive showing against FURIA in July. He earned match MVP honours as LOS swept its Brazilian rivals 2-0, finishing the series with 11 kills, two deaths, and 18 assists.
With international experience at EWC already behind him, Zest now heads to Worlds as part of a LOS roster that has also reached the CBLOL Split 2 Grand Final.
Raí "Curse" Yamada – Jungle
Raí “Curse” Yamada began his career with RED Canids Academy in 2023, gradually working his way up to the organisation's main roster.
Previously known as DOOM, the Brazilian jungler joined LOS in April 2026 and quickly became part of the team's push for another international appearance.
Curse helped LOS put together a strong CBLOL Split 2 campaign, including a commanding 2-0 victory over FURIA in July. He finished that series with seven kills and 31 assists, contributing to LOS' dominant performance.
The team has since secured a place in the CBLOL Split 2 Grand Final and qualified for Worlds, giving Curse his first appearance at the tournament.
Jeong "Feisty" Seong-hoon – Mid lane
Jeong“Feisty”Seong-hoon has spent years building his career across different regions before finally earning a Worlds berth.
The Korean midlaner began competing in 2020 and went on to represent several Challengers teams, including BRION Challengers and KT Challengers. He later took his talents to Europe, where he found success with GIANTX Pride.
Feisty won Spain's Superliga Summer and Finals titles in 2025 before joining LOS ahead of the 2026 season. He carried his winning experience into Brazil, helping LOS finish runner-up in CBLOL Split 1 and reach the Split 2 Grand Final. His form in the latter competition has been particularly strong, with Feisty posting a 6.82 KDA across 18 games and delivering 14 kills in LOS' July sweep of FURIA.
Wallyson "Duduhh" Francisco Silva – Bot lane
Wallyson “Duduhh” Francisco Silva has spent much of his early career with LOS, rising through its academy roster before establishing himself in Brazil's top-flight competition.
The botlaner also gained experience with KaBuM! before returning to LOS and helping the team finish runner-up in CBLOL Split 1. Duduhh continued to deliver in Split 2, picking up three match MVP awards during the competition. He was particularly effective in LOS' opening series against FURIA, recording 17 kills and 14 assists as the team secured a 2-0 victory. His performances have helped LOS return to the CBLOL Grand Final and secure a place at Worlds.
FURIA (CBLOL)
Pedro "Tatu" Seixas – Jungle
Pedro “Tatu” Seixas has quickly become one of the most accomplished young players in Brazilian League of Legends. The jungler began competing in the academy scene in 2022 before making a name for himself with paiN Gaming Academy. He won CBLOL Academy Split 1 and the Americas Challengers tournament in 2024, establishing himself as one of the region's promising talents.
Tatu eventually joined 
FURIA Esports and became an important part of the organisation's rise. He helped the team claim LTA South Split 2 in 2025 before winning the Americas Cup and CBLOL Split 1 in 2026.
His performances during FURIA's CBLOL Split 1 championship campaign earned him the league's MVP award, adding another individual accolade to his growing collection. Tatu has also had several opportunities to test himself internationally. He competed at MSI in both 2025 and 2026, including a series against T1 at the latter tournament, and represented FURIA at the Esports World Cup.
Despite several international appearances, Worlds has continued to elude him until now. FURIA's qualification finally gives Tatu a chance to represent Brazil on League of Legends' biggest stage.
Arthur "Tutsz" Peixoto Machado – Mid lane
Arthur "Tutsz" Machado has been part of Brazil's competitive League of Legends scene for several years, representing organisations such as Flamengo Esports and LOUD Academy before joining FURIA in 2023.
The experienced midlaner has been a mainstay of FURIA's recent success, helping the team win LTA South Split 2 in 2025, followed by the Americas Cup and CBLOL Split 1 in 2026. Tutsz has also faced international opposition at MSI and the Esports World Cup, gaining valuable experience against teams from other major regions.
His performances in CBLOL Split 2 included three match MVP awards, with FURIA battling through the playoffs to reach the Grand Final against LOS. Now, after several years of competing domestically and internationally, Tutsz is finally making his Worlds debut.
Andrey "Ayu" Saraiva – Bot lane
Andrey “Ayu” Saraiva has been part of FURIA's League of Legends roster since his early competitive career, initially playing support before switching to the botlane role in 2023. The position change eventually paid off, with Ayu becoming a regular starter and helping FURIA capture several major domestic titles.
He was part of the squad that won LTA South Split 2 in 2025, followed by the Americas Cup and CBLOL Split 1 in 2026. His performances during the 2025 season also earned him a place on the LTA South Split 2 All-Pro Second Team.
Ayu has already represented FURIA internationally at MSI and the Esports World Cup, including the team's appearances against some of the strongest sides from other regions. With FURIA now qualified for Worlds and preparing to contest the CBLOL Split 2 Grand Final, the Brazilian botlaner has another opportunity to build on the experience he has gained over the past few seasons.
